Lubricating apparatus



March 16, 1937.

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. '12, l1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 E. w. DAVIS2,074,143

March 16, 1937. E.Y w. DAvls vLUBRICAT.ING APPARATUS Filed Jan. l2, 19342 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 16, 193.7

UNITED* STATES 4Pli'rlz'rrr OFFICE l LBBICATING APARATUS mest'W. Davis,Oak Park, Ill., .assignor to .Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill.;a

corporation lolf Virginia v Application January 12, 193,4, Serial No.706,351

21 claims. (ci. zei-47.3)

My invention relates generally-to lubricating apparatus and moreparticularly to improvements in' power-operated high-pressure lubricantcompressors. y

5 Ity is anobject of my invention `to provide an improved portablehigh-pressure lubricant compresser-for the lubrication of automobilesandY similar machinery, the bearings o f which require different kindsof lubricant. A

A further` object is to provide a the aforementioned type in which alubricant reservoir, together with a high-pressure plunger, may bedetachably connected to the pneumatic motor.

lubricant .compressorhaving detachable power means withv means forautomatically relieving'.

the lubricant `pressure in thedischarge conduit when the motor is notoperating.

A furtherobject is to provide an improved pneumatically-operatedylubricant compressor having, a plurality of interchangeable lubricantreservoirs andA pumping mechanisms, which is simple in construction, maybe economically manufactured, and which' will yoperate satisfac torilyto inject lubricant under high pressure."

Other objects will appear from the following description,r\eferencebeing had to the accom# Figure' 4 is a fragmentary sectional viewshowing the latch for holding the reservoir connected to the air motor;and t Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure l.

' The lubricant compressor comprises a cylinydrlcal barrel I0 in which afollower piston` l2-is freely .reciprocabla the piston comprising 'apair of oppositely-fac'ing cup leathers I4 pressed yagainst; a backingplate I8 by a pair of cup-'- shaped stampings lwhich are clampedtogether by a bolt 20. The stampings I8 have flanges 22 which engage thewalls of the barrel Il! topre-`v vent ,tilting orA canting of thereservoir'i' the barrel.

The end s ofthe barrel are screwed into a head compressor of A` furtherobject is` to provide an improvedV 24 and cap 26', respectively. The cap26 has a vent 28 therein, the vent being normally closed by a v'alvebody 30 `threaded. inthe cap. The

valve body 30 has a port or a passageway 32 formed therein, the end ofwhich is normally closed by aspring-pressed valve 34, the tension ofwhich may be adjusted by means of an apertured plug 36 threaded in thevalve 'body 30. A cross-pin 38 is secured in the valve body 38 tovprovide a convenient' grip for unscrewing the valvebody when itisdesired to uncover the vent opening 28. When the valve body 30 ispartially unscrewed, air under pressure may escape through the ventopening 28 and a pas'- sageway '40 formed in the valve body 3l) to by'lpass-the valve 34.

A-n air inlet fitting 42 having an enlarged head f u is threaded in thecap 2e, the opening in the tting being normally closed by aspring-pressedA plunger check .valve 46.

The `head 24 has a` bore`4 formed therein which intersects abn-.enlargedcored hole56 `formed'in the head. A filling nib 52 is threaded in thehead 24 communicating with thecored hole 50 of the head. A cylinder 54is secured in the bore d8, being tightly clamped therein by a, nut 56threaded upon its lower end, the latter drawing a flange 58 formed atthe upper end of the cylinder firmly against a gasket 60.

' The cylinder ybody 54 has ahigh pressure cylina der 62 formed therein,in which a plunger 64 is reciprocable. Lubric nt may flow into the highpressure cylinder 62 t rough a pair of inlet ports ing 'IIJ which formsa rocking bearing for the .operating pin l2' forming part of the air`motor hereinafterto be described. Leakageof lubricant past the plungeris prevented `by a hat#- washer 14, 'theflange of which is held againstthe plunger by a spring-pressed'dished washer `16 and vwhich is clampedin place bya ring 'i8' threaded in the end of the cylinder body 54.

4The outlet end of the cylinder 62 is normally closed by a ball checkvalve held against-its seat by a spring 82, the latter being seated inan elbow fitting 84 .threaded into the lower end of the cylinder body54.

A discharge conduit, illustrated as a exible hose 86, is suitablyconnected to the elbow 84 and at its outer extremity carries a. coupler'88.

The'plunger 64 has-an enlarged head 68m" The head 68 hasa'-transversely-extendingopen- The coupler is adapted to be detachablyconnectf ed to a lubricant receiving tting 98 threaded into a bearing 92to be lubricated. The coupling andv tting are not illustrated in detailbut may be oi?y any suitable construction, such, for -example, asdisclosed in the application of Joseph Bxgsytricky, Serial No. 661,713.filed March 20. 19 V In the operation of many of the couplers used i inhigh pressure lubricating systems. such, for

example, as that shown in the aforesaid Bystricky application, and inthe patent 'to Arthur V. Gullborg, No. 1,307,734,- it-is desirable toprol0` vide means for relieving the lubricant pressure in the dischargeconduit upon the completion of a lubricating operation.Y This isespecially desirable and in fact'sometimes practically necessary whenthe bearing being lubricated oiers' high resistance to the flow oflubricant. In such instances the coupler whlchis .lubricant pressureoperated is held locked to the fitting by the relsiiditi'al pressure inthe lubricant discharge confIo relieve the lubricant pressure in thedischarge conduit after the lubricating operation has been completed, Ihave providedl a by-pass from the discharge conduit to the barrelreservoir I8 i which is adapted to be closed during the lubri- 0 catingoperation and opened lupon'the completion of the operation. 'I'hisby-pass Icomprises a conduit 94 (Figure 3), one end of which is securedto the elbow fitting 84 and the other end of which is secured to abushing' 96 threaded in a boss 98 which extends sidewardly from the head24. The boss has a bore |00 therein which communicates with the coredopening 50 formed in the head 24 through a passageway |02. r. A valve|04Y is arranged to engage a suitable 3 seat |05 formed in the bushing96, the valve' being formed at the end of a stem |06 which is 'guidedfor longitudinal movement in a bushing |08 threaded in the upper end ofthe bore |00 and which is sealed by a hat-washer ||0 clampedin place bythe bushing |08. The stem 061s provided with an enlarged head I2 and isretained in the bore of the boss 98 by a split-ring spring II4 seated ina suitable annular groove and against which the head I2 is adapted toabut.

Thelair motor for operating the compressor comprisesa body |I6,preferably a die casting. and a head casting |I8 securedjthereto by aplu-` rality of studs |20, a suitable gasket |22 being interposedbetween the body and the`head castingr-,to form an air-tight sealtherebetween.

Acylinder liner I 24 is retained in a bore |26 formed in the body II6 bythe head- I I8, the liner havirg a cylinder bore |28 formed therein toreceive ahollow piston |30. The piston has an enlarged diameter headportion |32 which has a sliding. fit in the cylinder |28 and has a bodyDOrtion 34 provided with prts |35, and slidable irthe reduced diameterportion |36 of the lliner 0. f

09 A connecting rod |38 has a spherical head |48 which fits loosely inthe socket formed ina bushi118 |42 threaded in the end of the reduceddiameter portion |34 of the piston, the bushing being retained by a lockwasher |44. The'opposite end of the connecting rod |38 is forked andpivotally connected to the'upwardly extending arm |46 of a bell cranklever |48 by means of a pin |50. 'I'he bell crank lever is freelypivoted on a pin |82 which projects throughthe wallsof the body. 6.

The other arm of the-bell crank lever' |48 terminates in the'cylindrical pin-like projection 12 which projects through the eye ofthe plunger 84.

Air under pressure is adapted to be supplied to the air motor through ahose |64 which termi- 75, nates 'in a coupler |56 connected to a pintting i |88; the coupler being retained upon the fitting by a collar |60threaded on the fitting. The fitting |58 is threaded in a combined oilerand air strainver |62 which may be of any suitable construction, and thelatter is threaded in the upwardly 1 projecting portion |64 of thecasting ||6, communicating with a valve chamber |66 formed in said bodyportion.

A valveseat |68 is formed at the lower end of the valve chamber for anair control valve |10 carried by a stem |12. The stem |12 is guided in abushing |14 threaded in the upper end of the valve chamber |66, suitablepacking |16 being provided to form an air-tightv seal, the packing beingcompressed by a compression coil spring |18, the upperend of whichengages a packing disk |80 and the lower end of which rests upon thevalve |10, tending to hold the latter against the seat |68. The upper`end of the valve stem |12 has a nut |82 threaded thereon, the stemprojecting through a slot |84 formed in the end.

of a valve trigger |86. The valve trigger extends along a suitablehandle |68 cast integrally with the body |I6 and'is pivoted upon a pin|90 which is anchored in the handle |88.

The passageway |92 from the valve seat |68 communicates with a duct |94which in'turn communicates through a port |96 withan annular passageway|98 formed about the' liner |24. A plurality of ports 200 connect theannular passagewayV |98 with the cylinder bore |28. A duct 202communicates with the annular passageway |98'and is in registry with' apassageway 204 formed in the head casting I8. The head casting isprovided-with a projection 206 upon the lower surface of which is formeda closed end T slot 208 shaped to engage the head 44 of the iitting 42.

A spring-pressed sealing member 2I0 is reciprocable in a cylindricalbore 2|2 formed in the projection 206, the sealing means being normallypressed against the end surface of the fitting 42 by a compression coilspring 2I4 which abuts against a plug 2I6 threaded in the upper end ofthe bore 2|2. 'I'he sealing means may be of any suitable constructionsuch as is commonly used in connectors of this general type, as shown,for example, inthe patent to OttoJ. Herb, No. 1,679,- 863, grantedAugust 7, 1928, or Patent No. 1,541,-

329, granted to me on June 9, 1 925.

A pair of studs 2| 8, 220 (Figure 3) are threaded in the head 24, thesestuds being preferably of substantially the same external shape as thefitting 42 and being slidable into suitable T- shaped slots formed inthebody |I6. 'Ehe studs 2|8 and 220 and the fitting 42 are thus adaptedVto be slid into their respective T-shaped slots, thereby to form adetachable three-point connection between the body |I6 and the barrel |0and parts carried thereby. This connection is ACmade by sliding the airmotor body |I6 to the left (Figure 2) relative to the barrel I0, at thesame time positioning the pin 12 that it will enter the eye formed inthe head 68 of the plunger 64. a

When the air motor body is properly positioned relative to the barrelI0, a latch 222 will slide over the head of the stud 2|8 to lock the airmotor to the barrel. The latch 222' is' guided for vertical movement ina boss 224 formed at the side of the body casting |I6, being presseddownwardly by a spring 226. The latch has a suitably knurled fingerpiece 228 threaded therein by which the latch may be raised out oflocking pomtion relative to the stud 2|8 so that the barrel Il may bedetached from the air motor.

opened, air under pressure will be supplied to the cylinder 234 througha conduit 238, one end l of. which is suitably secured at the end ,ofpassageway |34 and the other en d of which is connected to a plug 240vthreaded 'in the end of cylinder 234. Y i y It will be understood thatwhile but a single barrel I0, together with its'plunger, cylinder andassociated parts, is herein illustrated, ltd` is intended that a'pl'urality of the barrel and compressor units will be supplied with asingle air motor, each barrel containing a different kind 2 0 oflubricant for the lubrication of diierent types of bearings. Forexample, in -an automobile 4service station the operator may have a,rack upon which are mounted four or ve barrels l0, with theirassociatedparts, one barrel containing chassis lubricant, another barrelcontaining water pump lubricant, another universal joint lubricant.-etc. Then in the lubrication of the automobile, the operator maysuccessively connect the several lbarrels to the air motor tov'lubricate the diierent bearings requiring different types oflubricant. In this way a single air motor will serve as the power unitfor any de sired number of o lubricant compressors. with resultant lowinitial cost and highly efficient operation.

The barrels |0 of the various compressors are adapted to be lled throughthe' fitting 52 by means of a suitable transfer pump such as that shown,for example, in my copending application, Serial No. 672,106, led May22, 1933. During the illling operation, the vent valve 30 is opened topermit escape of air from behind the follower piston l2, the airilowi'ng through the vent -port 28. the passageway 40 and through theopening of the .bushing 36 to the atmosphere. After the barrel' has beencompletely filled. the vent valve 30 is closed and the barrel mayl beconnected to the air motor as previously described, the latch 222holding the barrel locked to the air motor. Upon connection of the airmotor to a suitable source of air under pressure, the compressor will'be in condition for use.

The operator will connect the coupler'60 of the discharge hose to a.fitting attached' to a bearing to be lubricated, and depress the triggerr|86 to open `the air. control valve |10. As soon as this. valveisopened, air under pressure will be supplied through theV duct 202,passageexert a priming pressure upon the. followeri2.

Lubrieantwill thus be forced under relatively low pressure into theyhighvpressur'e cylinder 62 for ejection by the plunger 64 tothe bearing.

At the' same time, as soon as the valve |10 isA way 204, sealing means2|0, and tting 42, to the right-hand end (Figure 2) of the barrel i0 tosupplied to the cyunder m of the air motor.

causing the piston |30 to reciprocate rapidly.

The operation of the' air motor itself is well known, being described inPatent No. 1,830,643, granted to me on November 3, 1931.

`It will be noted that there is considerable lost motion between theconnecting rod |38 and the piston |30, this lost motion making itpossible for the piston to start from' any position of rest in which itmay have been stopped. If desired this lost motion may be provided n theconnection between the-connecting ro |38 and the `-bell crank |48 or4between the latter and the plunger 64 instead of between the air motorpiston and the connecting rod, or the lost motion may be lotherwisedistributed amongithese connections. It is likewise important that. theexhaust from the cylinder |28 comes'through `the ports 4|35 before theend of the plunger 64 enters the cylinder 62. reciprocating until thevalve |10 is again closed,

The piston |30 will continue supplying lubricant under high pressurethrough y the discharge conduit to the bearing to be lubricated.

After suiiicient lubricant has been supplied to the bearing, the trigger|86 is released, permitting the valve |10 to close, whereupon thepressure in the cylinder |30 will rapidly drop to atmospheric pressure,lpermitting the by-pass control piston 232 to be forced upwardly by itsspring 236, thereby opening the .by-pass valve |04 vand relieving thelubricant pressure in the discharge conduit 36. The relief of thepressure in the discharge conduit facilitates disconnection of thecoupler 88 from the tting. '1

After all of the bearings requiring one type of lubricant have beenserviced, the barrel-may be detached from the air motor by releasing thelatch 222 and sliding the air motor to the right (Figure 1) relative tothe barrel, and aA barrel containing the `next lubricant to be suppliedto the bearings substituted therefor.

It will be noted that when the control valve l| 10 is closed. thecompressed air within the righthand end-of the barrel 4I0 is notreleased but is retained by the check valve 46 in the fitting 42. Thus,after the barrel has been used after relling, there will always be someair -pressure behind the piston to force the latter .to the, left andthereby prime the high pressure cylinder. The valve 34 forms a safetyvalve to Vpreventexcessive pressures within the barrel i0.

While I have illustrated and described a speciflc embodiment of myinvention, many modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention, and I do not wish tov be limited to the precisedetails set forth but desire to avail myself of all changes within thescope of the appended claims. Y

I claim: A. Y

1. A high pressure lubricant compressor com- Vprising a'high speedreciprocating air motor, said air motor comprising a piston andcylinder, a

connecting rod secured to said pistonby a lost motion connection, apivotally mounted bell crank having one arm thereof'pivotally connectedto `the end of said connecting rod and having adetachable connectingelement upon the other arm thereof; eand a lubricant reservoir having ahigh Y `pressure pumping mechanism connected thereto, said pumpingmechanism including a plunger,

said plunger having an opening therein engage-y able withv saiddetachable connecting element on said hell crank for operationthereby.

2. In a high pressure lubricant compressor, the

combination of a reciprocating air motor, a lubricant reservoir,detachable means for securing said reservoir to said motor, a followerin said reservoir, means to su'pply air under vpressure from said motorto said reservoir` at one side of said follower, said last-namedmeanscomprising a passageway completed through one of said detachableconnecting means, a high pressure pumping mechanism carried-by saidreservoir, l0 means to connect 'said air motor to said pumping means asan incident to the connection of said reservoir to said air motor,whereby said pumping means may be operated by said air motor, alubricant discharge conduit connected to said pumping means, a checkvalve interposed between said pumping means and said discharge conduitto prevent return flow from the latter to the former, a by-pass aroundsaid check valve, a

v'alve'controlling the ilow of lubricant around said by-pass, and meansassociated with said air motor for'closing said valve during theintervals that air under pressure is being supplied to said air motor.

3. A- highpressure lubricant compressor comprising an air motor, alubricant reservoir and pumping mechanism detachably connected to -saidair motor and having valve controlled means to by-pass lubricant fromthe discharge conduit of s'aid mechanism to said reservoir,pneumatically .operated means associated with said air motor foroperating said valve, and means to supply air under pressure to saidpneumatically operated means whenever` air under pressure is beingSupplied to said air motor.

4. Ina high pressure lubricant compressor, the combination of apneumatically-operated motor unit, a lubricant pumping mechanism unitde-y tachably secured to said motor, said mechanism having a dischargeconduit, means connected to said pumping mechanism unit for relievingthe lubricant pressure inthe discharge conduit, and means connected tosaid motor unit for operating said pressure relieving means wheneversaid motor unit is being operated.

5. A high pressure lubricant compressor comprising apneumatically-operated motor having/ a reciprocating part, a handlerigidly secured .to said motor and positioned above the latter, alubricant reservoir and pumping mechanism, said Dumping mechanism having`a reciprocating part.

means for detachably securing said "reservoirv and pumping mechanism tosaid motor, said means includingan easily detachable universal loperating connection between the reciprocating parts of said motor andof said pumping mechal nism, and means for conducting air under pressureto said reservoir to force the lubricant therein into said'pumping'i'nechanism 6. In high pressure lubricating apparatus. the

a lubricant reservoir having high pressure pumping means connectedthereto, said reservoir being detachablyl connectible to said motor, alubri` cant discharge conduit connected to said pumping mechanism, valvemeans for relieving lubricant pressure in said discharge conduit, andmechanism securely and permanently connected to said air motor foroperating said last-named means whenever airunder pressure is beingsupplied to said motor.

7 In high pressure lubricating apparatus, the combination of an airpressure operated reciprocating motor, a high pressure pumping mechanismhaving a discharge conduit, means operable Y independentlv of saidpumping mechanism for combination of a compressed air operated motor,.

relieving the lubricant pressure in said discharge conduit, a pneumaticpressure operated plunger for controlling the operation of saidlast-named means, and a common manually'operable valve for admitting airunder pressure to said motor and to said plunger. I

8. In a high pressure nlubricant compressor, the combination of an airmotor, a lubricant reservoir and high pressure pumping mechanismdetachably secured to saidr motor, said mechanism including areciprocable plunger having an opening at the outer end thereof, a bellcrank pivotally mounted on said air motor,`a connection between saidmotor and said bell crank for oscillating the latter, and a projectionon said bell crank engageable in the opening of said plunger lto form auniversal driving connection between lubricant compressor, thecombination oi.' a reciprocating air motor. a casing therefor, a han-Idle forming a part of said casing, a manually operable valve foradmitting power fluid to said air motor, a lubricant container havingmeans forY detachably connecting it to said motor casing, a highpressure cylinder secured to said container, a plunger reciprocabletherein, a discharge conduit connected to the discharge end of said highpressure cylinder, a valve for relievj ing the lubricant pressure in thedischarge conduit, and a power fluid operated plunger carried by saidmotor casing, said plunger being operable upon opening said power uidvalve to close said lubricant pressure relieving valve.

11. A high pressure lubricant vcompressor comprising a pneumaticallyoperated reciprocating motor, said motor comprising a piston, aconnecting rod having a lost motion connection with said pls/ton so asto be reciprocable thereby, a

bell crank having one arm thereot-pivotally connected to one end of saidconnecting rod, a lubricant container, means for detachably securingsaid container to said motor casing, a high pressure pumping mechanism.carried by said container, said pumping mechanism having areciprocating plunger', and means for operatively connecting the otherarmof said bell crank to said plunger as'an incident to securing saidcontainer to said casing.

l2.v In a high pressure vlubricant compressor,

' the combination of a pneumatically operated air motor, said motorcomprising a high speed reciprocatingpiston, a. cylinder therefor, valvemeans for admitting air under pressure to said cylinder, a. casingincluding said cylinder, -a lubricant reservoir having a barrel providedwith a follower piston,`, a high pressure pump cylinder permanentlysecured to said barrel. a plunger reciprocable in said cylinder, adetachable operating connection between said plunger and the piston ofsaid air motor, detachable -means for connecting said barrel to saidcasing,

said last named means` comprising a coupling connection for transmittingair under pressure from the casing of said motor to said barrel at-having ahigh pressurel pump permanently connected thereto, saidcontainer including a lubri- 1 cant reservoir having a follower piston,and detachable means for` securing said container to said compressed airmotor, said means including a detachable operative connection betweenthe 'air motor and the plunger of said high pressure pumping mechanism,and a compressed air transmitting connection between ythe cylinder ofsaid air motor and said reservoir to supply air under pressure behindsaid follower piston and force lubricant in said reservoir to said highpressure pumping mechanism.

14. In a high pressure lubricant compressor, the combination-of a motorhaving a reciprocating part, a pump detachably connected to said motorand having a plunger reciprocable at an angle to the direction ofreciprocation` of said part, a lubricant reservoir secured'to said pumpfor supplying lubricant thereto, and a detachable mechanical drivingconnection between said part and said plunger.

15. In a high pressure lubricant compressor,

the combination of amotor having a reciprocating part, a pump detachablyconnected to said motor and having a plunger reciprocable in a 1direction perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said part,a lubricant reservoir secured to said pump for supplying lubricantthereto, and a detachable mechanical driving connection between saidpart and said plunger.

16. In a high pressure lubricant compressor, the combination of a motorhaving a reciprocating part, a pump and 'reservoir unit detachablysecured to said motor, said pump having a reciprocating plunger, anda'pivoted 'bell crank forming a driving connection between said part andsaid plunger, and -means forming a detachable connection between saidbell crank and said plunger.

17. In a high pressure lubricant compressor, the combination of a motorhaving a reciprocating part, a pump detachably secured to said motor andhaving a reciprocating plunger, anda pivoted bell crank forming a.driving connection between said part and said plunger. said bell crankbeing permanently connected to one of said elements and detachablyconnected to the other.

18. In a high pressure lubricant compressor,

the combination of an air motor, a lubricant reservoir having a followerpiston therein, a high pressure pumping mechanism secured to saidreservoir, and means for detachably securing said reservoir and pumpingmechanism to said motor for operation of said pumping mechanism thereby,said means including' an air supply connection to said reservoir.

19. In a high pressure lubricant compressor, the combination of an airmotor, a reservoir having a pumping mechanism secured thereto, afollower piston in said reservoir, means for detachably securing saidreservoir and pumping mechanism to said motor, and aquickly and easilyseparable to and fro driving connection between said motor and saidmechanism, said connection being effected and said reservoir andmechanism being secured to said motor by movement of the latter relativeto the former.

20. In a high pressure lubricant compressor,

the combination of an air motor unit including a valve for controllingthe supply of air underv to prevent return flow offar fromsaidcontainer..

21. In a high pressure lubricant compressor, the combination lof acompressed air operated motor unit having a, reciprocating part, acylindrical lubricant reservoir, a follower piston freely reciprocablein said reservoir, a lubricant pumping mechanism permanently connectedto said reservoir and having a reciprocating part, means for detachablyconnecting said motor unit to said pumping mechanism with said parts inoperativev

